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Blade height and angle setting adjust smoothly. Great small features: rack-and-pinion fence, a leveling foot on the fourth leg, and a spring-release throat plate. The only machine with an electronic brake to halt the blade after the saw is turned off. Likes: Stout and accurate fence, and the blade guard goes on and off easily. We particularly like its Ind-I-Cut feature—a small plastic disk embedded in the table that you can mark with a pencil to indicate the position of the kerf.
Dislikes: Increasing tubing-wall thickness would improve the stand's rigidity and make for a more stable platform when cutting heavy lumber. Likes: A solid little cutter with a sturdy, accurate fence and 18 inches of slide-out outfeed support. Its performance exceeds its small footprint. Dislikes: The riving knife was not aligned properly with the blade, which made the wood skew slightly away from the rip fence during a rip cut.
Adjusting it was more complicated than it should have been. Likes:The industry's first worm-gear setup allows this saw to be compact and light enough to carry with one hand. A negative reading meant that the materials being cut might be subject to being pinched and a kick back more likely to occur. Remembering that a sheet of paper is approximately 0. One term you may hear when reading about table saw accuracy is blade runout.
Runout is a term that describes whether or how much the outside edge of a saw blade wobbles while being held by the motor shaft. Sometimes, operators measure runout by using a saw blade. In that case, the very use of a saw blade presumes that the specific blade is perfect or nearly perfect in its flatness.
Using a saw blade that has any warping will not give a clear indication of blade runout. To ensure that our runout measurements were accurate, TBB used a Freud calibration plate. While TBB does not have a means to measure the accuracy of this specification, we did put this calibration plate on top of a polished granite calibration table and could not shine a light under any portion of the plate or slip the 0.
We used the Freud calibration plate on each of the test saws to measure runout. We removed the new Diablo blade, installed the calibration plate, and raised the trunnion to its maximum vertical adjustment. Before measuring the runout, we placed a black mark on the calibration plate to give a consistent starting position for the runout test.
The same iGauging dial indicator provided the test measurements, only this time, the units were set to read out in mm. TBB noticed that in the initial saws, the movements were sufficiently small to need the smaller metric units.
TBB placed the dial indicator on the starting position of the calibration disk and calibrated that position on the dial indicator to a reading of zero. We were very careful to rotate the calibration plate by using the outside rim so as not to impart any side-to-side force on the plate that might introduce errors into the measurements. While we rotated the plate, we recorded the maximum reading on the dial indicator. We validated each maximum reading by running the test for a second time and noting that the readings were consistent.
TBB also noted that as we performed these tests on all eight saws, the maximum readings occurred at different parts of the plate along its rotation.
Because the max readings were in different and discrete parts of the calibration plate, TBB had a very high level of confidence in the flatness of the calibration plate, itself. As you can see above the runout ranges from 0. Typically values below 0. Both the Bosch and SkilSaw are in a range that needs further evaluation especially if the saw is to be used for finish work.
From the data of the six individual tests above, we compiled a summary ranking for the overall winner of the as-built accuracy. The ranking for the summary follows:. As we said in the beginning of this section, many of these saws will be used, right out of the box, for rough cutting materials and the fine accuracy may not matter so much in that application.
If this is the case for a saw, the quality of the cuts and more importantly, the potential safety of the operator is going to be a function of the as-shipped accuracy of the saw from the manufacturer. So, TBB wanted to see how the various saws compared right out of the box. The results are in and, as a group, these eight saws measured up quite well for out-of-the-box accuracy.
It should be noted that all of the saws were adjusted after the accuracy evaluation prior to the performance testing.
With the exception of blade runout the other adjustments can be made to dial in the saws. The first measurements we looked at with the performance testing was blade speed cutting all three of the test materials. This tests gives us a relative comparison of how much blade speed reduction the motors have under different loading conditions.
We used our as-measured no-load speeds instead of the published values from the manufacturers. In order to measure the blade speed we used a digital laser non-contact tachometer. A piece of reflective tape was adhered to each saw blade just behind the carbide tooth, so that the tape would be just above the top of the wood cutting surface, allowing us to capture the blade speed during the cuts.
We used a power-feeder to ensure that all the material was pushed through each saw at the same feed rate. In the photo above you can see our test set-up with the power feeder, a decibel meter to the left, the digital tachometer in the center, and the amp meter on the right.
If you look really closely at the saw blade, the piece of reflective tape is to the left side of the blade near the power feeder. In the left column is the no-load blade speed and the right column is the lowest recorded blade speed during the cut.
In the next test we measured blade speed cutting 2x pressure treated Southern Yellow Pine decking. Another indication of how hard a table saw is working is monitoring the amperage AMP draw under loading conditions. We measured the amp draw for each saw using all three materials again at the same time we were recording RPMs.
The first graph below shows the amp draw for each saw cutting plywood compared to the no-load amp draw. The white bar on the left indicates the no load amps and the colored bar on the right shows the maximum amp draw during the cut. We took all of the data from the RPM and AMP measurements and added them to come up with the final performance rankings.
This gives us a relative comparison of each saw over all 6 sets of data. The best overall performance in our testing was the Skilsaw SPT The Skilsaw was described by many of the TBB crew as a beast and the data reinforces that. Ergonomically enhanced tools can include helpful features such as angled handles, riving knives, safety switches, and non-slip coatings.
Ergonomic guidelines in tool design can help maximize human performance on the job by making the job easier for the worker, improving safety and decreasing injuries. For this ergonomic section, we considered the following factors, rating them 1 thru 3.
Below is a graph showing the weights of all the table saws including their stands. Below is a graph showing the average measured decibels for the saws for each of the materials we tested. As you can see the saws range from OSHA allows 8 hours of exposure for up to 90 db, from 95 db up the exposure limits start dropping quickly starting at 4 hrs for 95 db so clearly these saws all need hearing protection. The Makita was given the best score of 1 as it was considerably quieter than the remaining.
Our TBB crew all helped rank each of the table saws for the ergonomics categories that we defined. Below is a table showing the ranking for each category and the final ranking. An interesting note about the stand height. The crew felt they were all decent heights but the Makita offers several heights which is a really nice feature!
Overall the entire crew really likes the saws with a rack-and-pinion fence system and the large wheels on the Skilsaw were also a big favorite. Skilsaw beat out Makita for the 3rd place only slightly and that result is really a function of pricing. But at the end of the day price is certainly a factor. For those that can afford the additional cost that feature alone may tip the scales for you. Regardless of price SawStop came in 5th place for the categories we evaluated.
However, we feel comfortable that all the table saws in this Head-to-Head are good saws and our testing helps bring to light pros and cons for each saw. Ultimately everyone needs to choose a tool based on their specific needs, uses, and budget. All posts by Todd ». You are quick to respond to comments and put in a great effort but…. This review I feel you miss the mark. Out of box accuracy is important but. Ore important to a pro user Sawstop Contractor Table Saw Youtube is tool able to be adjusted to be near perfect and how does it hold this position.
No comments on how solid the fences are, ie deflection movement, ease of micro adjust, etc. All theses kizmos are for the manufacturers to hype. Your strengths are that you actually use these machines, so your strengths are to BE MORE opinionated or biased not less because your opinion has meaning or weight. Let the know knowings use the kizmos and just give us your real opinions based on real use. Just my 2 cents.
Bengt — We appreciate the feedback as it always helps us get better. Having said that I think some of your concerns were evaluated and included in the results in ways that may not be entirely clear.
We evaluated the fences and ranked them in the ergonomics section, we even did lateral load testing on them as part of that ranking.
We feel strongly that motor power is very important in a jobsite table saw and it was a big part of our evaluation. Great testing work. Is that power feeder available to buy? If so where? Thks Rob. Rob — One of the guys on our crew, Stan, built that for this testing. We had to create something custom to work with the jobsite saws. No issues with the motor soft start?
There is a recall on that and the parts are backordered for months. I bought one for my nephew. He used it a few times and had this issue. Great job with this testing. As far as the Hitachi. Many sources online point to minimal startups of the Hitachi c10rj before becoming unusable not starting.
If it happens in 30 days it can go back to the store but after 30 days you call Hitachi most described as unpleasant drive to your closet Hitachi Service center and wait up to months.
I really like the Hitachi myself but am afraid of the soft start module error. Please forgive any punctuation etc. This is tough on phone. Note that Todd. While a response was given to Todd, jt wasnt until 2 weeks later. An offer will also answer your question.
So, anybody who really wants is does what? Yes…they make an offer. If they dont want to buy it, they ask IIA? But I digress. Thank you to Todd and crew for all of this evaluarion. For those of you with heavy critiques, I suggest you take a pen and paper and start thinking about how many men and how much time and how much money all of that testing would take not to mention experience in the trades.
We are spoiled. Years ago, the only way to get this information would be to go around and buy beers for contractors after work and ask them about their tools. Alan — Honestly, we will likely never include HF tools in our evaluations. I myself many, many years ago used some of their stuff when I was first starting out and it served a purpose.
But for us their products just are not up to a level we feel warrants our evaluations. Todd, Thanks for your frank and straightforward reply here. I too have used Harbor Freight tools from time to time. I invariably regret the purchase. Okay for a one-time use, but not otherwise worth the investment.
You should think about re-evaluating your position. I would agree with your position prior to about a year ago when they started launching these new lines — you should take another look. Thank you! Seems like others here heard the same. I think it would be so cool if you could put this rumor to bed. Mike — Thanks for the kind words. Just stay clear of that store completely. Unless you want to purchase a tool over and over.
Just spend the money up front and buy a quality tool. I was hoping to see the JET in there. It has not held up at all, I keep it in my construction trailer and it has its own cubby hole and is secured with straps. It has fallen apart. Just really disappointed in the product. I am waiting for the testing done on the cordless saws because I am upgrading.
These are quality tools and I have check some of the table saw carefully and really these look durable and I wish I will buy one from the list. On the Hitachi as it sat in the Lowes showroom I was able when locked to move the fence. I ultimately bought the Dewalt on the rolling stand. It cuts fine, the fence locks on both ends,measurements seem ok, and it unfolds and rolls away very easily-I like it so far.
I used to have a Makita table saw, with a terrible fence, unreliable ruler markings, and difficult to use blade guide that interfered with measurements, which you needed to do every time-a terrible saw, very frustrating to use.
I found this by accident. Very informative and a wealth of knowledge. I hve often wondered how each of these saws compared to the others. I was lookng for Fence accurracy, maybe you covered it, I will have to reread the artice to see. For me this is very important. Thanks for the excellent article, and the video as well.
Some of these might be good to have to do initial and maintenance setups. One of the best tool reviews I have ever seen. Actual measurements and not just a bunch of opinions. Especially liked the measurements of speed and amps under load. High amps not only trips breakers but also overheats the saw. Why is it good if a table saw draws the same power with no load and load? First you save energy and costs if the saw is running a long time.
Second the motor dows not run at max power all the time an therefore might last longer. I submitted a fairly detailed comment about: — the great tests and reviews here, including this one, — reminding folks about how accuracy is specified, — the possible over-resolution of some of these measurements, and — raising some questions about the accuracy precision of some the angle and length measuring devices.
I was very impressed with the math that you used in your testing….. At the end of the video you talked about longevity…. Quite a few years ago I learned to take the 10 inch blade that came with a Sawzall and either throw it away or give it to somebody who wants it more than you. You can still cut inch and a half stock but most of us are using three quarter to begin with….
Bob — Thanks for the compliment. The level Table Saw Miter Gauge With Clamp Test of detail on performance is really great! Patrick — Thanks for the feedback. Trust me, I wish we could spend more time on every aspect but we spent hundreds of hours as it was.
I can tell you that the rack and pinion fences are much better than the standard fences of the past. We felt the Ridgid and Delta fences were the least impressive of the standard type. The new Makita stand is really nice because it has adjustable heights allowing for user preference. Having said that, we all really like the style that Dewalt and Hitachi use. The new Skilsaw stand is great for mobility with the big wheels. I hope that helps a bit.
Very well written article with full information. Thank you for sharing this great info. I would definitely try to follow these suggestions. Excellent review with great detail and valuable information for the amatuer buyer who is just getting started with wood work. But the data in the table suggests you may have intended to reference the SkilSaw rather than the SawStop in that text or in the table?
Which is correct? Paul — Good catch…. As you can imagine…all the data makes it tough to keep it all straight. Those really look like they are made to install on cast-iron full size saws. Nice comparison overall. Were these from a single cut, or averaged from multiple?
Noted that the no-load amperages changed from one set of data cut-type to another for some of the saws. Typo or indicator of something else varying? Unfortunately, light weight can sometimes mean lower build quality. I turned 50 this year and really appreciate the lighter weight tools. A question: why the no-load speed for same machine is different in different table? The meters were in constant motion and we took the reading off of a single video frame that represented our determination of no-load speeds.
We report them as our instruments showed them. Rob, thank you for the explanation. But my question the same machine have significant difference — for example Ridgid, the no-loading speed is for polywood but for pressure treated wood. Jeffery — As Rob explained things we had the RPM measurements running on that meter, and had to watch our video playback to evaluate the numbers no recording of the numbers digitally.
So we tried to take the average no load speed watching the video play back. Is it perfect? In this application I doubt it. I really enjoyed your review and appreciate the significant time and effort put into it. How did you acquire the machines?
Were they evaluation units provided by the manufacturers or did you buy them randomly, like Consumer Reports? If they were provided to you the cynic in me says you probably got cherry picked units. Same thing for build quality. I spent quite a while looking at the Dewalt but all the negative reviews on quality and accuracy turned me off it. I certainly do see many more positive reviews than negative reviews for the Dewalt, but it does leave you with the feeling that a dice roll is partly involved in buying a recommended table saw.
This is super important for guys cutting parts in a 1 car garage. Next to the job site a garage is next most likely place for these small saws and dust is a huge issue. Was ready to pull the trigger on this saw but there seems to be a lot of negative info out there concerning the fence lock breaking and the saw motor failing to turn on. Says it has a 5 year warranty. Ended up giving up and headed to buy another saw.
How ever the complete no help to resolve it from Hitachi. Is a problem after a week of back and forth they said they would set up a pick up time to ship and get it repaired over a week still no call back for a pick up. Really informative and thorough review. One thing worth pointing out is that Ridgid, at its low price-point has a lifetime warranty.
Very cool video! I like the safety features on this as I do not have any experience on one. I was glad to see that the Hitachi did so well in the head to head. I have seen the larger spec stated elsewhere. If not, why? Is the arbor just not long enough?
Or is it a zero clearance plate problem? The two models I mentioned above appear to only differ in the type of blade included. Your team tested the second model, which I think comes with a premium Freud Diablo blade. Also, the model you did not test comes with a Skil blade, but again, I cannot find its description anywhere. Can you help by supplying its model. I discovered an online manual for the SPT and was able to ferret out the answer to my first question, above.
On page 46 of that manual, these words are found:. Never make dado cuts without this insert. I have learned that even though the insert part number is in the manual, it is not being sold yet, but is expected to be on the market soon. So that solves that question. I still need an answer to my second question, though, as well as your opinion about which blade model number is preferable and why or for what. Thanks for the work you put in on this.
I am retired now and have been researching these types of saws as I wish to begin doing some building of storage shelves and deck furniture. As a beginner, I did not wish to spend huge amounts of money until I was sure it was something I would be staying with for a while Very informative and happy to see the way you did your testing on the video.
Your work is greatly appreciated!. We would expect some variation of 50 RPM as you had mentioned, but not to See that the Hitachi changed from down to , Delta jumped from to , Rigid from to No too terrible. Lots of data… Good overall presentation though for use to make informed decisions. Just in time!!! My Sears Craftsmen portable saw died on me last week. It was only 12 years old with minimal use. It was a nice saw with a nice sized table, not heavy, and a stand that separated and folded like an accordion.
Unfortunately, as it turned out, the gear teeth on the worm drive had worn down to the point where the saw started slip and whine. Now that Sears is defunct Canada , I have no other option than to replace it due to no parts being available. That said, I have been looking for that ideal replacement saw that will hopefully take me further down the road than the Craftsmen, and a unit that will do what I need it to do.
This review could not have been found at a better time. I will take the results that were achieved and use them as a measurement in purchasing a new one. Thanks for the time spent on conducting this testing and review. Very much appreciated! Lastly, for lots of guys they are transitioning to track saws for work that requires a really precise cuts or they cut critical pieces in the shop.
Thanks for the feedback. Did you have any problems with that or do you have any insight into why reviewers are claiming this problem with the saw? I will tell you that all jobsite table saws use light weight tables that are NOT machined cast iron like shop saws.
Most of the jobsite saws are a light weight cast aluminum top, and NOT machined flat. So there are tolerances in the manufacturing that make it impossible to get a really flat surface. If you need a cut that precise on a job then there are other better approaches including track saws and even pre-cutting materials in the shop.
Thank you for your response. It is a tiny garage which we use for storage so I need a saw I can store there but will be doing the actual cutting in the driveway so I have to move it out there to cut, then store it back in the garage in a tight space.
I had one for years until I upgraded to a unisaw. I put it on a mobile base and it was great. It has the accuracy of a cast iron table, a great fence and folds up somewhat be like these jobsite saws do. The safety value of the sawstop is worth the price difference. I believe there are errors in your RPM computation charts. I have a couple questions about your methods and precision.
The no-load rpms for the different saws were very different from replicate to replicate for the three different materials. With that amount of variability in the no-load speed, I wonder how precise any of the measurements were under load?
I see three categories at least. Also in one of the tables above, one of the saws was given a decibel score of 1, while the text indicates none of the saws got a one because they all require hearing protection.
Jason — Thank you along with several others for pointing out this issue. We in fact had some numbers mixed up in the spreadsheets for the no-load speed. Well done review.
I have two questions: 1 cut quality — I know blade choice can be a big factor, but was there any difference in cut quality? When does blade runout become a factor? Would a strong motor make up for slightly more run out? Does the momentum of the blade solve that issue while cutting? Also, how do you fix it? Is it the the bearings, or can it be adjusted?
Also, you can buy blade stabilization plates, does that help? We only tested them using all new blades from the same manufacturer to eliminate the blade performance. Blade runout really depends on the tolerance you need. Can it be adjusted? Hi Todd, To you and your team, this was a great review. If this question has already been addressed, please forgive me. For each of the sections tested, I.
Table flatness, miter to blade, miter to fence, etc. Also, you answered a guys question, who was new to woodworking, saying these are job site saws and not for woodworking, and to get a contractor saw. I am looking to use one for furniture, cabinets, shelving, etc. They have light weight tables cast aluminum, thin plate tops. A contractor saw is a bit smaller in footprint than a cabinet saw, slightly lighter, and works well on a mobile stand.
For brute production, lots and lots of rough work, it looks like the DeWalt or Skilsaw is your best bet. Mike — Great feedback. Very thorough I especially appreciate the focus on accuracy and run out. Although, I wonder what the purpose of the coating is on all the table tops? Core Millwork perhaps? All of the tops are lighter weight materials like cast aluminum and not cast iron.
They really need a coating. I appreciate the response but I seriously doubt that. Mike 30 year old Makita has an aluminum top and is still in service without issue just like my 20 year old Bosch. I highly doubt the sprayed coating is tougher than the material under it.
When cross cutting on the table saw it is not important to use the miter gauge. Related Topics. More Safety Test Quizzes. The U. Nmls Exam Prep Test! Featured Quizzes. Are You Really Best Friends? The Ultimate Logical Fallacies Quiz! The Office Trivia Quiz! Quiz: What U.
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